I know how I’m voting. I’m not sure how much shouting and screaming over the next few months is going to change many minds. It won’t be as bad as 1983 but it won’t be pleasant. Isn’t it possible to hold a view strongly but respect an alternative view and let the referendum result do the talking?

The debate we need to be having is what kind of abortion system we actually want.

The pretend-it-isn’t-happening-system we currently have is bad but the repeal the 8th and hope for the best isn’t exactly inspiring either. I don’t like the uncertainty and I don’t trust the politicians to who have been avoiding this issue for decades to get it done, there’s no guarantee they will even be able to get the proposed legislation passed, and even if they do I’m sure it will open up yet another can of worms. It’s a shame they can’t pass legislation in advance to be enacted automatically if repeal goes through. (You can only trust politicians to do what they think is most likely to get them reelected.) It’ll probably end up being decided by the courts one way or another.

Then there are the larger questions about healthcare. Why hasn’t more been done already to improve maternity care[1], better childcare[1], and easier access to contraception (eg IUD)[2]?

[1] Pro life and [2] Pro choice should at least be able to agree on some of these things.

I expect abortion will become more available but I don’t expect much to be done about making it safer or rarer.

Those of us who support the repeal of the 8th amendment hope that we will be able to make our own choices in line with global best medical practice. The 12 week limit will take care of 92% of abortions and the other 8% can be dealt with by women and their medical professionals.

Hope that the Dáil can actually pass the proposed legislation, as I already said. There’s no guarantee a free vote will pass on the first attempt and what version of it will actually get passed and what laws we will end up with after court challenges. Repealing the 8th is only the start.

I hope the workshops are about educating campaigners about how to convey their message and speak to the undecided.

From all I have seen so far, there is no attempt to reach out to the middle ground (which well and truly exists) and the one repeal march I was on – Dublin, Sept. 2016 – seemed more aggressive triumphalism to me than anything else.

I understand that their is a big “no compromise” mentality within the repeal campaign, I have seen and heard it. But in order to have this referendum pass, it is critical that the faces of the campaign, those out in the streets or canvassing reach out to the undecided.

I don’t think the pro choice will win simply because its pro choice, firstly the Supreme Court have to decide on constitutional issues and related issues, if it decides the state has an obligation to protect the rights of the unborn then how can it legislate to kill the unborn. These people who seem to think this will pass are really putting the cart before the horse .I really hope the state will be seen for what it is, I think there is a long way to go before we see liberal abortion here.

Problem is it might not be that simple, it might not be possible to repeal the eight depending on what the Supreme Court decides, I’m no Lawyer but why is the state appealing a High Court ruling if it’s just a matter or repealing the eight amendment. There must be a reason for it.